Internal-combustion engine.



, A. IVI. S`NYDER.

NTERNAL colwusnom ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6\ 19|?.

Patented July 23, 19118 will NESSES me Nonms PETERS co.. pHoro-uma., WASHING 70N. n, c.

A. NI. SNYDER.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nqv. 6. |911.

Patented July 23, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WTNESSES NI/ENTOR rm: Nanms Farms co4, womurnn. w/lsumamru. n. r:A

ARTHUR IVI. lSlilYl)3ER, OF FAERFJELD, llOWA.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

patented duly 23, i918..

Application filed November 6, 1917. `Serial No. 200,523.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. Sivrnnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fairfield, in the county of ,leffer1- son and State of Iowa, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in lnternal-Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and` exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines and more particularly to that type ofrotary engines which employ a plurality of cylinders with reciprocating pistons,-one object of the invention being to provide an internal combustion engine capable of developing` great speed with a minimum 'expenditure of motive fluid y A further object is to construct the engine in such manner that the amount of power developed may be readily regulated and controlled by the operator according to varying conditions. A

A further object is to provide an internal combustion engine which shall be especially useful with aeroplanes where great speed and power are required, and which shall also be adaptable for use with automobiles, tractors and for other purposes.

`With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings; Figure l isa longitudinal sectional view of an internal combustion engine embodying my imn provements; Fig. 2 is a view partly in sec tion and partly in elevation; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through a pair of the cylinders, and lshowing the piston connections and the valve mechanism; Fig. 4l is an end view showing the gearing, and Figs. 5 and Gareenlarged sectional views illustrating the valve mechanism.

The stationary framework of the engine comprises heads l) and separated sufficiently to accommodate the rotary member of the structure, and a central shaft D connecting said heads and passing centrally through said rotary member, 'lhesaid ro-l tary member comprises a cylindrical casing M in which the operating mechanism is inclosed, and near one end of said casing a diaphragm or inner head M1 is located, whereby a chamber M2 is formed at this end of the cylinder in which gearing hereinafter described, is located and within thischamber, suitable oil may be placed for lubrieating said gearing and the movable parts connected therewith. 'lhe head `M3 of the casing (which head also forms one end wall of the chamber M2) is provided with a hub j mounted within the head Z9 of the fixed frame and also on the end portion of the fixed shaft D,-said hub j being provided at its outer end with a .flange or plate ll/lt adapted to be secured to a propeller or other device to be driven. rlhe other end of the rotary casing is provided with a head or drum N3 having annular grooves to receive annular `ribs or fianges N2 on the head (l of the fixed framework,` and thus effect a working fit between these parts.

. Located within the revoluble casing lill are several pairs of cylinders A having cooling ribs N,-the cylinders of each pair being located at respective sides of the fixed central shaft D, and within each cylinder A, two pistons B are located and adapted to reciprocate in directions opposite to each other, the motive fluid being admitted to and exhausted from the central portions of said cylinders `in a mannerhereinafter explained, and spark plugs P are suitably located for igniting the explosive mixture be tween pistons.

rlhvo shafts E, F1, arc mounted near their respective ends in `bearings in the head or drum N3 and in bearings afforded by the inner head or diaphragm M1,-said shafts E E1, being caused to project beyond their bearings in the latter and terminate within the gear chamber M2, as shown in Fig. l.

Crossheads C, C1 are secured to therespective shafts F, E1-a number of such cross-heads being secured toV each of. said shafts corresponding in number `to the number of pairs of cylinders A which may be employed, ln the drawing, l have shown four pairs of such cylinders but it is evident that a greater or less number may be employed. rlFhe respectiveendsof each cross head C are connected, by links F with the upper pistons B (as viewed in Fig. 3E in pistons in the other cylinder will beV caused two opposite cylinders A,-said links being pivotally connected at G with the crosshead and at H, with said pistons. The lower cross-head C1 (as viewed in Fig. 3) is connected with the lower pistons B in the same cylinders. f Crank shafts Z are mounted in suitable bearings in the heads M1 and M3 so as to be disposed within the chamber M2 of the revoluble casing M and to each of these crank shafts, a gear Y is secured. These gears are'lthus disposed at opposite sides of the central 'fixed shaft D and mesh with apsmaller gear e secured to the latter. Arms X are. secured to the respective shafts E, El and to these arms, links H4 are pivotally connectechas-at /",-the other ends of said links'being attached, as at f1, to the crank shafts Z. Y

Vith such construction and arrangement of'partsas 'above described, it will be apparent that `when gaseous charges are exploded alternately in two opposite cylinders A, the pistons in one of said cylinders will be' forced inopposite directions while, the

i to approach each other.. Tn thismanner the cross heads@ and C l ,will be caused to oscil-` late, which -motion ywill be transmitted, through the' shafts E,'E1 to the arms X.

Y. TheseA arms, having vlink connection with they crank shafts Y l i, valve :Ll

and the inlet valve 7L returnedtosuch position able springs S3' proper-succession *byV means of cams R onV Z,'the 'latter will be ro tated and motion will thus be imparted to thegears Y. A As theY smaller gear c with which the gea-rs Y mesh, is secured to the fixed shaft D, the result will be the rotation of the casing M and the mechanism therein constitutingpthe rotary member of the engine. ,i n,

Valve'ca/sings S2 are located between the cylindersA'. ofeach pair and the latter are provided centrally with suitable inlet and exhaust ports communicating with the valve casingsso as to receive motiveviluid from the latter and alsordischargevthe exhaust through said valve cas'ing,-the valves in said casingv being so operativeA that while motive fluid is beingsuppliedte one cyliir der, the exhaust products of combustion will be discharged from the other cylinder'. Thus in Fig,` 5, an inlet valve L is shown open and in Fig. 6,k the inlet valve L is shown open and the exhaust valve for the same cylinder is shown closed. In Fig. 3, l have shown the exhaust for the right hand cylinder open, l for the left hand cylinder will be open as indicated inFig. 5. The valves V:tor the, several pairs of cylinders l' vare maintained normally closed and by means of suitandi-they are opened in a'shaft T,suitable pivoted-levers beinginf teiposed between the stems of said valves and ports and its the cams. The cam shaft T is mounted in suitable bearings in the heads M1 and N and is provided within the chamber M2, with a gear E2 which receives motion :trom a gear E3 on one of the crank shafts Z, when the i-evoluble casing and the mechanism contained therein are in motion.

- The head d oi the fixed Vf1ame-work may support a suitable carbureter F1 and manifold F4 and the latter communicated with a duet S1 in t-he head or d rum Nf. The duwt S1 is connected by means oit a pipe AF with a tube I and with a sliding valve tube J located within the tube I. The tube l, is provided with ports, such as indicated at L4 to communicate with the several valve casings S2, and the valve tube J is provided with parts L2 of various lengths, so that when saidV valve tube is moved longitudinally the ports leading to the several valve chambers S2 may be opened or closed successively. In this manner the several pairs 0f cylinders or engine units may be thrown into or` out of action successively as occasion may demand in varying the speed and power ofthe enoine under varying cireunistances and conc itions which may be met in practical use and operation of the engine when applied to an aeroplane or other machine. i

To provide elfective and compact means' for manually controlling the valve tube J, the devices now to be described may be einployed: A `foot lever D2 is pivoted at F to the fixed head Z of the framework and between its ends, said lever is pivotally connected, as at VF3 with a ring or collar El. Rods C3 are connected with the ring or collar E4 and extend through the heads Z and N3,*said rods being secured at their inner ends to a grooved collar E5 mounted to slide on the iixed central shaft D. A collar E is revolubly mounted on the collar E5 and with said revoluble collar, a lever Bl1 is pivotally attached. The lever B4 is pivoted at E7 to the hub portion of the head or drum N3, and. its iree end is connected by a. rod B2 with an arm B5 secured to the valve, tube J and passing 'through a suitable eloi|- gated slot in the cuter tube I. Tt will be apparent that by operating the foot lever D2, the valve tube J will be moved longitudinally within the tube I to cut the engine units out of or into service successively, according to the direction in which the valve tube is moved. i

' The exhaust ports for the several pairs of; cylinders are adapted to discharge through the various valve casings into a tube Dvl and this tube, communicates through a duct N in the head N3 with one end of a pipe() is connected. The free end of this pipe O discharges into an elongated exhaust passage K? openat one end, and this passage contains a series of blades K forming pockets ners-rasa KT between them. rlhe' exhaust products of combustion will be discharged by the pipe 0 into the pockets K7, and impine'e against the blades K, and thus the exhaust products are utilized in adding propelling power `to the engine. .lt will be understood that the central shaft D may be mounted torotate and the casing M rigidly connected `with the heads and d of the frame. i

Various other changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention without departing' from the spirit thereof or limitingv its scope, and hence l do not wish to restrict myself to the precise details herein set forth.

l'lavinp; fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, isz"4 l. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a fixed frame comprising two heads and a fixed shaft connecting them, of a rotary member disposed between said heads and comprising' a revoluble casing', a lpair of cylinders secured within said casing, two oppositely moving' pistons in each of said cylinders, 4nearing' mounted in said casing' and operatively connected with said pistons, and a gear on the fixed shaft operatively associated with said gearing'.

2. ln an internal combustion engine, the combination with a fixed frame, of a rotary member mounted therein and operatively associated therewith, said rotary member including' a plu 'ality of engine units, valve mechanism for each of said units, a tube having' ports communicatinp,l with the valve mechanisms, a valve tube movable within said iirst-mentioned tube and having' ports of various lengths, means for supplying motive fluid to said tubes, and means for moving said valve tube to include the several engine units successively into service or to successively exclude said engine units.

3. ln an internal combustion engine, the combination with a fixed frame, of a rotary member mounted therein and including' a plurality of engine unitsoperatively associated with the fixed frame, valve mechanisms for said engine units, a tube having ports comniunicating with the valve mechanisms of the several engine units, a valve tube movable longitudinally in said firstmentioned tube, and having?,l ports of vari-V ous lengths, a foot lever mounted on the fixed frame, a collar movable with the l'otary member, connections between said-collar and the foot level', a lever pivoted to the rotary member and said collar, and a rod connecting' said last mentioned lever with said valve tube.

il. ln Van internal combustion engine, the combination with a fixed frame comprising two heads and a fixed shaft connecting;` them, of a rotary casing' disposed between said heads, a pair of cylinders secured within saidcasingr, two oppositely moving` pistons in each of said cylinders, meansfor supplying; an explosive charge between said pistons and for exhausting; the products of combustion,"oscillatory cross-heads connecting the pistons in the respective cylinders, a gear on theiixed shaft, larger gears meshing,l with the =rear on the fixed shaft, and connections between said cross heads and said ,larger gears for driving the latter.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a. fixed frame comprising` two heads and a fixed shaft connecting' them, of a rotary casing' mounted between said heads, a pair of cylinders secured in said casing, two oppositely moving' pistons in each of said cylinders, oscillatory cross heads connected with the pistons in the respective cylinders, two crank shafts mounted in said casing and operatively connected with said cross heads, gears carried by said crank shafts, and a smaller gear secured to the fixed shaft and meshing; with the gears on the crank shafts.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a fixed frame comprising; two heads and a fixed shaft connecting them, of a rotary easing` between said heads, a pair of cylinders secured in said casing, two op positely n'ioving pistons in each cylinder, cross heads connected with` the pistons in the respective cylinders, crank shafts mounted in said easing, gears secured to said crank shafts, a smaller gear on the fixed shaft and meshing with the gears on the crank shaft, oscillatory arms connected with said cross heads, and links connecting said oscillatory arms with the crank shafts.

'Z'. ln an. internal combustion engine, the combination with a fixed frame comprising two heads and a fixed shaft connecting them, of a rotary casing between said heads, a pair of cylinders secured in said casing, two oppositely moving;` pistons in each of said cylinders, oscillatory cross heads con-- nected with said pistons, crank shafts mounted in the casing', connections between said crank shafts and said oscillatory cross heads, gears on said crank shafts, a gear on the fixed shaft and meshing with the gears on the crank shafts, valve mechanism between said cylinders, a cam shaftfor operating said valve mechanism, and gearing` bctween said cam shaft and one of said crank shafts.

8. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a fixed frame comprising' two heads and a fixed shaft connecting them, one of said heads having' an elongated exhaust passage and a plurality of blades in said pzssage, of a rotary member between said heads, cylinders constituting parts of said rotary member, pistons in said cylinders, gearing between said pistons and the fixed shaft, means for supplying' explosive gg; Y 1,273,285

charges to said cylinders, and lmi exhaust specification in the presence of two subscribplpe for recelvlng products of combustlon ing Witnesses. from saidcyhnders, sald exhaust plpedlsposed to discharge the exhaust products of ARTHUR M SNYDER' i combustion againstthe blades in said eX- VVtnesses:

haust passage. R. S. FERGUSON,

, In testimony whereof, I havesigned this GEORGE F. DowNING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, WashingtonJ). G. 

